Wellesley High School graduate found dead at Harvard

A man’s body found late last night in a Harvard Medical School building is confirmed to be that of Wellesley High School graduate and Harvard sophomore John Edwards.

Samantha Fields

A man’s body found late last night in a Harvard Medical School building is confirmed to be that of Wellesley High School graduate and Harvard sophomore John Edwards.

According to police reports, Edwards’s body was found in a fourth floor bathroom of the New Research Building on the Harvard Medical School campus at 11:37 p.m. Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of death is under investigation, though a spokeswoman for Boston Police said it is believed to be a suicide. Terrel Harris, communication director for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, could not confirm a cause of death. “The Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy, and from that we will be able to determine the cause and manner of death,” he said.

Boston Health and EMS and the Boston Medical Examiner’s team also responded to the building, which was set up as a crime scene; a HAZMAT team was called after police found a Thermos-like container containing a white chalky material near the body, a spokeswoman for the Boston Police said.

Edwards, 19, graduated valedictorian of his 2006 high school class, and was in his sophomore year at Harvard, where he was affiliated with Kirkland House, one of the college’s residential communities. A meeting open to all students and staff was held in a Kirkland common room this afternoon.

In an e-mail message to the Harvard College community, Dean David Pilbeam wrote in part: “To the residents of Kirkland, John’s friends, and classmates, please know that my thoughts are with you, and I extend my heartfelt sympathies. I know the entire Harvard community joins me in extending to his family our deepest sympathies.

“There are few things more difficult to deal with than the sudden loss of a friend. Many of you who knew John may have a tough time dealing with this untimely loss. Please remember that there are many people on campus who can help you through this difficult time. Please remember that there are many people on campus who can help you through this difficult time.”